A SETTLEMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 23, 19 August 1932, Page 5

A SETTLEMENT

PROBATE COURT DISPUTE MONASTRY GIVES £35,000 MAN'S THREAT OF SUICIDE (Special Service.) LONDON, July 12.—A settlement was announced in the Probate Court dispute over the will of a rich young bachelor who, it was alleged, used to walk along the seashore half naked and painted with rouge. In a will of March, 1927, John Harrison, who died last year in France, left his money to the Community of the Order of St. Benedict, of Benedict Abbey, Scotland. His brother, Cecil Harrison, alleg. cd that John was net of sound mind, and claimed a share of the estate. During yesterday's hearing Sir Pat ifiefe; Hastings, K.Q„ wh(o , appeared for the plaintiff, announced a settle. ment, and said the monastery was prepared to pay over £35,000, of which £20,000 should be settled upon the two infant children of the plaintiff. In answer to Sir Patrick Hastings, Mr. H. Tranfield, ef Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, Mr. John Harrison's solicitors, agreed that the testator had been under the care of mental experts. Sir Patrick Hastings said that a letter written in French by Mr. John Harrison read:

"I do not fear death. Gambling has ruined me, yet no one need worry about that. May God have pity on me, who has never harmed anyone. God in his goodness will receive me." Have not members of his family, asked Sir Patrick, stated\ that he tried to commit suicide by throwing himself over s.ome stairs?—l have never heard of it. Mr. Traufield said he had gathered that at the time John Harrison came of age there was a problem as to whether he should be certified and completely incarcerated or allowed to do as he liked. "I am going to suggest that this young man had two distinct personalities," said Sir Patrick. "To people whom he did not know he could be shrewd, cunning and scheming, but to people ;whp know him lie was utterly mentally unbalanced from the day cf his birth." Mr. Traufield uiid he had learned that John Harrison wrote} to Lord Clinton and threatened to commit suicide if he were iiot allowed to become a Catholic. _ __